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DE vs. GWW: Deere vs. W.W. Grainger Stock Comparison

How do Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but DE is classified in Machinery while GWW is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
Profile ItemDEGWW
NameDeere & CompanyW.W. Grainger Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryAgricultural & Farm MachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization181.09 billion USD67.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DE
GWW
GSPC
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
Total Return (1Y)49.27%54.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.81%24.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.67%25.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DE
GWW
GSPC
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.18%24.49%
Beta (5Y)0.880.93
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.81%-24.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.23M250.35K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DE and GWW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.362.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.263.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 52.33% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Deere (DE) at 18.24%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

18.24%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
DE
18.24%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

52.33%

GWW
52.33%
Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Deere (DE) at 10.17% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 11.17% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

10.17%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
DE
10.17%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

11.17%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
GWW
11.17%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Deere (DE) at 13.37% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 16.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

13.37%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
DE
13.37%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

16.14%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
GWW
16.14%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
ROE (TTM)18.24%52.33%
ROA (TTM)3.76%20.34%
Net Margin (TTM)10.17%11.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.37%16.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)25.18%39.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 4.51% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Deere (DE) at -11.59% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at -8.55% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Deere (DE) at -27.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
Revenue Growth (YoY)-11.59%4.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.50%5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)-27.79%-8.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.37%5.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Deere (DE) at 2.13 and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 2.61 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

2.13

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
DE
2.13
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

2.61

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
GWW
2.61
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Deere (DE) at 2.30 uses more debt funding than most peers.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

2.30

Max
2.33
DE
2.30
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
GWW
0.65
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.132.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.300.65
Net Debt / EBITDA6.700.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Deere (DE) at 0.98% and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

0.98%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
DE
0.98%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

0.65%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
GWW
0.65%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 20.87% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Deere (DE) at 36.02% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

36.02%

Max
67.39%
DE
36.02%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

20.87%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
GWW
20.87%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.98%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.02%20.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Deere (DE) at 37.33 sits in the richer quartile — DE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

37.33

Max
59.38
DE
37.33
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

31.66

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
GWW
31.66
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 3.48 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Deere (DE) at 3.78 sits in the pricier quartile — DE costs more per dollar of sales.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

3.78

Max
7.54
DE
3.78
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

3.48

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
GWW
3.48
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Deere (DE) at 6.47 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and W.W. Grainger (GWW) at 15.56 prices even higher, above its industry range.

DE

Capital Goods industry group

6.47

Max
9.66
DE
6.47
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

GWW

Capital Goods industry group

15.56

GWW
15.56
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Deere (DE) vs. W.W. Grainger (GWW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Deere (DE) and W.W. Grainger (GWW)
MetricDEGWW
P/E Ratio (TTM)37.3331.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.783.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.4715.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.49%1.97%